THE first round of the cups got underway this week and there was plenty of action on the courts.

THE first round of the cups got underway this week and there was plenty of action on the courts.

Southport V came up against a depleted St Cuthberts III side, who were forced to play four reserves due to injuries.

In the first mixed doubles, James Abdous, son of team captain John Abdous, played alongside Margaret Lathom as they went up against the St Cuthberts pairing of captain David Kerr and Sue Tindsley.

Southport took the first game in a best-of-three with a score of 22-20. Although St Cuthberts went on to take the second game 15-21, Southport edged the last game 21-18 to take the first match 2-1.

The next doubles match was a little more one-sided as John Phillips and Wang Joo Allen of Southport came up against Martin McKetterick and Linda Davies. St Cuthberts proved too strong for Southport as they took this match 10-21 13-21 to tie the overall scores at 1-1.

In the first of the Mens doubles, M. Halal and Mike Balmforth powered to a 21-13 21-15 win over Steve Johnson and Tolu Oshinowo to take the overall scores to 2-1 in favour of Southport.

Match one of the Ladies doubles saw St Cuthberts stroll to a 12-21 8-21 win over Southport as Shirley Halton and Linda Davies beat Kathy Arque and Wang Joo Allen 2-0 to level the scores again at 2-2.

However, in the second Ladies doubles match, Southport gained revenge as Sue Leech and Margaret Lathom defeated Sue Tindsley and Sue Porter 21-14 21-14 to lead 3-2 on the night.

The second Mens doubles match saw St Cuthberts showing their resilience once again as Steve Johnson and David Kerr overcame M. Halal and James Abdous 20-22 16-21 to take the aggregate scores back to 3-3.

In what was now seemingly becoming a bit of a 'see-saw' affair, the last of the Ladies doubles matches was taken by Southport as Sue Leech and Kathy Arque triumphed over Sue Porter and Shirley Halton with a score of 21-15 21-17, leaving the scores at 4-3 to Southport.

The third Mens doubles was the crunch match as it would either be decided by a straight win to Southport or on maximum points if St Cuthberts were to win.

The match was a typical decider, as Mike Balmforth and John Phillips of Southport took on Martin McKetterick and Tolu Oshinowo. Neither side was willing to give up easily as the tie went down to the wire. St Cuthberts eventually took the first game 21-23 after finally breaking Southport's stronghold. The next game went to Southport in another close encounter as they beat St Cuthberts 21-19. The third and final game was also a score of 19-21, but in favour of St Cuthberts. With the overall score tied at 4-4, the match was decided by points.

In the end, it was St Cuthberts who triumphed, but only just, as they won by a five point margin with a score of 328-333.

Relieved team captain, David Kerr said: "I'm really pleased with the overall team performance, especially from the reserves who had to step in. I would also like to say well done to Southport for such a great game."

The first round of the Hackney Cup saw Mawdesley II come up against Woodvale II, and although the overall score was a little one-sided, the individual matches were closely fought.

The first Ladies doubles match saw Jeni Hulme and Jenny Clough of Mawdesley come up against Belinda Miller and Jean Wedgwood of Woodvale. Although the first game was close, Woodvale prevailed 18-21 12-21 to take the first game 2-0 and put Woodvale 0-1 up on the night.

Woodvale then followed up their success in the Ladies doubles with a 17-21 17-21 win for John McErlean and Jon Lunt over Iain Povall and team captain Peter Crawshaw in the first of the Mens doubles to go 0-2 up overall.

In the second of the Ladies doubles, the younger pairing of Steph Hall and Michelle Dixon stormed to a 12-21 10-21 win over Mawdesley's Nicky Mitchell and Jean Smith, putting Woodvale 0-3 up.

The second Mens doubles between Graham Andrews and Greg White of Mawdesley and Woodvale's team of captain Dan Wright and Irv Grimbaldstone went to three games but was eventually won by Woodvale 21-15 12-21 15-21. Woodvale, now 0-4 up, did not look like letting up.

Peter Crawshaw and Jeni Hulme were Mawdesley's representatives in the first Mixed doubles of the night as they went head-to-head against Belinda Miller and John McErlean in a match that would almost certainly decide the overall outcome.

It was a case of family affairs for Woodvale in the third Ladies match as aunty Jean Wedgwood teamed up with neice Steph Hall against Jean Smith and Jenny Clough of Mawdesley. Woodvale took the match 15-21 13-21 and their overall lead increased further to 0-6.

The third Mens doubles went to three games as Iain Povall and Graham Andrews took on Woodvale's Irv Grimbaldstone and Jon Lunt. Yet again though, Woodvale emerged victorious with a score of 18-21 21-10 18-21, taking their lead to 0-7.

It was left to the second mixed pairing of Greg White and Nicky Mitchell to try and restore some pride for Mawdesley as Dan Wright and Michelle Dixon looked to gain a whitewash victory for Woodvale. In the end, Wright and Dixon came out on top 18-21 18-21, and gave Woodvale a 0-8 win to progress in style.

St Cuthberts VI have unfortunately decided that they will not be continuing for the following season due to an insufficient number of players, leaving division six with nine teams. It also means that Hesketh Bank II will not start until the following week.